What are the schools like in Fairplains, NC?

School district data for Fairplains is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Fairplains?

The median household income in Fairplains, NC is $37,261 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 19.5%.

What is the weather like in Fairplains, NC?

Fairplains has an average high temperature of 48.2°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 5.6 inches.

Fairplains, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Fairplains, NC affordable or expensive?

Fairplains's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fairplains is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $125,000 and the median rent is $694 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Fairplains, NC?

Fairplains has a violent crime rate of 225.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1252.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fairplains, NC a Good Place to Live?

Fairplains is a small town of 1,709 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $37,261 and a 19.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Fairplains stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fairplains is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Fairplains city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 88.7

Fairplains's overall cost of living index is 88.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fairplains costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fairplains, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$125,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$694	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$37,261	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Fairplains's violent crime rate is 225.1 per 100,000 residents — 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

225.1 /100k

Property Crime

1252.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Fairplains, NC	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	68.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fairplains sees average highs of 48.2°F in January and 86.9°F in July, with 51.7 inches of annual precipitation and 5.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fairplains, NC
Average High — January	48.2°F
Average High — July	86.9°F
Annual Precipitation	51.7"
Annual Snowfall	5.6"

Demographics

Metric	Fairplains, NC	National Avg
Population	1,709	—
Median Age	53.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	19.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	15.7%	22.2%
65 and over	27.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Wilkesboro, NC 2 mi Mulberry, NC 2 mi Cricket, NC 3 mi Wilkesboro, NC 4 mi Hays, NC 4 mi

Fairplains vs Other Cities

Fairplains, NC vs North Wilkesboro, NC Fairplains, NC vs Mulberry, NC Fairplains, NC vs Cricket, NC Fairplains, NC vs Wilkesboro, NC Fairplains, NC vs Hays, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fairplains, NC affordable or expensive?

Fairplains's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fairplains roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $125,000 and median rent is $694/month.

What is the crime rate in Fairplains, NC?

Fairplains's violent crime rate is 225.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1252.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fairplains?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Fairplains, NC a good place to live?

Fairplains, NC has a population of 1,709, a median household income of $37,261, and an unemployment rate of 19.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Fairplains?

Fairplains averages 48.2°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.7 inches with about 5.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Fairplains?

The population of Fairplains, North Carolina is 1,709 with a median age of 53.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fairplains?

Key numbers for living in Fairplains: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $125,000, median household income $37,261, crime index 59 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fairplains side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.